USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 15
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In 1899 Horace B. Freeman was united in marriage to Laura D. Mc- Kenzie, who was born at Wingham, Ontario, and reared in Flushing, and to this union three children have been born, Helen, born in 1900, who was graduated from the Flushing high school with the class of 1916; Ralph, born in 1903, and Robert, born in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are mem- bers of the Baptist church and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same. Mr. Freeman is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the "blue" lodge at Flushing, of which he is a past master, and of the chapter at Flushing, while both he and his wife are members of the Flushing chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Freeman having held some of the important offices in the same. Mr. Freeman also is an active member of Swartz Creek Lodge No. 309, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past noble grand, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of all these fraternal organizations.
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PAUL, L. LAING.
One of the leading business men of Otisville is Paul L. Laing, mer- chant and undertaker, who also owns a good farm in Richfield township, Genesee county. He was born in the above-named village, December 6, 1872, and is a son of John B. and Harriet (Look) Laing. The father was born at Calcaldy, across the Firth from Edinburgh, Scotland. When nine years old his parents brought him to America, where the father, who was a seafaring man, settled on a farm in New England, where he spent the rest of his life. John B. Laing received a high school education in Vermont, then entered Bowdoin College, Maine, where he studied the lan- guages and medicine; later was a student in the University of Michigan, then one year in the Detroit College of Medicine, being valedictorian of his class in 1869. He came to Mt. Morris, Genesee county, where he taught one term of school, also practiced medicine, then located in Otisville in 1871, continuing in active practice of his profession until late in life. His death occurred here on April 6, 1908, he having lived in retirement the last seven years of his life. He was for many years one of the leading physicians of the county. His wife preceded him to the grave on May 31, 1893. They were parents of five children, four now living, namely: Paul L., of this sketch; Gertrude died in infancy; Ronald J. is in business in Otisville; John B. lives in Flint; Gladys is the wife of Walter Vastbinder, of Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Doctor Laing was a profound scholar and an influential man in his community. He was an active worker in the cause of temperance and an ardent churchman, but not biased in his religious views. He was a char- ter member and acting secretary of Otisville Lodge No. 401, Free and Accepted Masons, for a number of years.
Paul L. Laing was graduated from the Flint high school, then entered the University of Michigan in 1894, spending two years in the law depart- ment, after which he taught three years in the public schools of Otisville. He then bought the general store of O. E. Snider and formed the firm of McCormick & Laing. which partnership existed thirteen years, from 1900 to 1913, when they sold to Crawford & Laing. The following autumn Mr. Laing bought the Corner Store, an interest in which he subsequently sold to Mr. Misner, the firm now being Laing & Misner. They carry a large general stock of merchandise and do a thriving business. Mr. Laing is also a licensed embalmer and undertaker.
Mr. Laing was married on April 7, 1896, to Nellie M. McCormick, a
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daughter of John H. and Ellen J. (Roberts) McCormick. Her father's parents came from Ireland, locating in Forest township, Genesee county, Michigan, and John H. McCormick was the first white male child born there. To Mr. and Mrs. Laing the following children have been born : Harriet I., who died in infancy; Douglas R., John K., Paul A., Charles M. are all in school; Hunton W. is the baby.
Mr. Laing is independent in his political views. He has served as justice of the peace, is now serving his second term as president of Otis- ville, and has been a member of the village council a number of times. He belongs to Otisville Lodge No. 401, Free and Accepted Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife belong to the Eastern Star and the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee and is active in the work of the same.
WALTER P. CHRYSLER.
Walter P. Chrysler, general manager for the Buick Motor Company at Flint, is a native of Kansas, born at Wamego, that state, April 2, 1875. son of Henry and Mary ( Breyman) Chrysler, both of whom were born in Wyandotte county, that state, and who are now living comfortably retired in the city of Salina, Kansas.
Henry Chrysler was the younger of the two sons born to his parents. the elder brother being Todd Chrysler. The father was a native of Ken- tucky and the mother, of Massachusetts. Grandfather Chrysler was a grocer and flour-miller at Wyandotte and he and his wife spent their last days there. When he was fourteen years of age, Henry Chrysler ran away from home and enlisted as a drummer boy in the Twelfth Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until the close of the Civil War, after which he returned home and worked in his father's mill for some time, later going to Armstrong, Kansas, where he became employed in the shops of the Kansas Railroad Company. Some years later he became a locomotive fireman and presently was promoted to the position of loco- motive engineer, running the first coal-burning locomotives on that line. For forty-one years Henry Chrysler served as a lomomotive engineer and then retired from the road, continuing to make his home in Salina, where he and his wife now reside. They are members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these chil-
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dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth. the others being as follow: Edward E .. of Detroit; Irene, wife of Edward Harvey, of Salina, Kansas, and one who died in early childhood. Mrs. Chrysler's father was born in Germany and as a young man came to this country and located at Wyandotte, Kansas, where he engaged in the drug business, later engaging in the live-stock business, in which he became quite successful. Both he and his wife lived to advanced ages. They were the parents of five children, Zerelda, Mary, Carl, George and John.
Walter P. Chrysler was three years old when his parents moved from Wamego to Ellis, Kansas, and in the latter town he grew to manhood. Fol- lowing his graduation from the high school, he entered the Union Pacific railroad shops there and acquired a thorough acquaintance with the general principles of railroad mechanics, four years later transferring his services to the Santa Fe railroad and was for some time employed as a general mechanic in the shops of that company at Arkansas City. He then went to the main shops of the company at Topeka, where he remained a year. at the end of which time he began a tour as a journeyman machinist, with a view to working in all the shops of the Union Pacific system for the bene- fit of the experience thus to be acquired. Upon completing this round of employment he returned to Ellis and resumed his place in the Union Pacific shops at that place, presently interrupting his labors to take a course in a business college there. Afterward he went to Salt Lake City and, after a year's service as a general mechanic in the shops in that city, was made round-house foreman, a position he occupied for eighteen months, during which time, in June, 1901, he returned to Ellis and was there married. From Salt Lake City Mr. Chrysler went to Trinidad, Colorado, as general foreman of the shops of the Colorado Southern railway at that place and was presently promoted to the position of master mechanic, with head- quarters at Childers, Texas. After a service of some time in that con- nection, he was engaged by the Chicago Great Western railroad as master mechanic of the shops of that company at Oelwein, Iowa, and while serving in that capacity was promoted to the position of superintendent of motive power and machinery. He served in that capacity until his services were engaged by the American Locomotive Company, as manager of the great plant of that company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his services were secured by the Buick Motor Company at Flint. In Janu- ary, 1912, Mr. Chrysler was installed as manager of the works of the great Buick plant at Flint, having eight thousand workmen under his direction.
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On July 1, 1916, Mr. Chrysler was promoted to the position of general manager of the Buick Motor Company.
On June 4, 1901, Walter P. Chrysler was united in marriage, at Ellis, Kansas, to Della V. Forker, daughter of George Forker and wife, of that city, and to this union four children have been born, Thelma, Bernice, Walter and Jack. Mrs. Chrysler is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Chrys- ler is a Scottish-Rite Mason and a noble of Isis Temple. Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Salina, Kansas.
JOHN F. BAKER.
John F. Baker, of Flint, one of the best-known attorneys in that city and a former member of the board of aldermen, is a native of Canada, but has lived in this county since he was about eight years old. He was born on Howe island, in the township of Pittsburg, province of Ontario, March 5, 1874, son of Thomas and Jemima ( Kelley) Baker, both natives of England, the former born in Devonshire and the latter in Cornwall; the father is still living on their farm in Flint township, this county; the mother died on April 20, 1916. To them eight children were born, as follow: Smith H., a farmer of Flint township, this county; Susan, deceased, who was the wife of Charles E. Rice, of Mundy township, this county; George K., of Flint town- ship : Elizabeth A., wife of J. Frank Sheldon, of that same township; John FF., the subject of this biographical sketch; Eva G., wife of Samuel A. Her- rick, living on the old home farm in Flint township, and two who died young.
Thomas Baker is the son of John Baker, who died at his home in Flint township, this county, in 1885. at the age of ninety-four years. John Baker, about 1846, after the death of his wife in England, came to this country with his son, John, and settled with the latter in Flint township, this county, where the latter died in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years, his father surviving him a year. The elder John Baker was the father of ten children, John, Charles, Thomas, Mrs. Elizabeth Sussex, who is still living in Devonshire, England; Mary, Amelia. Ann, Charlotte, Eliza and Martha. Thomas Baker was apprenticed in his youth to a miller, but after moving to Canada, he settled near Kingston and engaged in farming. His father and his brothers, John and Charles, had preceded him to Michigan. Upon the death of his eldest brother, John, in 1884, he came here to attend the funeral
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and was so well pleased with the lay of the land that he bought a farm of one hundred and ten acres in Flint township and moved there the next year, in 1885. He is still living on the home farm, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was the daughter of John and Rebecca (Bellman) Kelley, who emigrated from England with their family to Canada and settled on Howe island, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother dying when past middle age and the father living to the age of seventy-four. They were the parents of seven children, Elizabeth, Susan, Jemima, Tabitha, William, John and Delia. Thomas Baker and his wife are Methodists. During the years he lived in Canada he was politically affiliated with the dominant party and held various minor local offices. Upon coming to the United States he affili- ated with the Democratic party and has ever taken a warm interest in poli- tical affairs.
John F. Baker was about eleven years old when his parents caine to this county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Flint township, receiv- ing his elementary education in the Crocker school. When twenty years of age he went to Midland and began clerking in a store there. Shortly after- ward William L. Baker erected an elevator at that place and he was made superintendent of the same, remaining thus engaged until the spring of 1897. when he went to Flint and entered upon a course in stenography and type- writing in the old Normal College, upon the completion of which course he returned to Midland and there for about two years read law in the office of M. J. Gue. He then returned home and was variously engaged until the fall of 1900, when he entered the Detroit College of Law, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in June, 1903. Mr. Baker worked his way through college by serving as a stenographer and typewriter and during his full course of three years missed but one lecture or recitation and that one he missed in order that he might attend the wedding of his sister. In the same month in which he was graduated, Mr. Baker was admitted to the bar and on July 6, following, opened an office at Flint; he has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession in that city, with present offices in the Dryden building. Mr. Baker always has been a Democrat and has given close attention to political affairs in this county. He was secretary of the Democratic county committee from 1904 to 1908 and in that capacity managed two campaigns for his party. In the spring of 1913 he was elected alderman from the sixth ward, on the Citizens ticket, but did not complete his term, losing his seat when he moved out of the ward. During his service in the council he was chairman of the ordinance commit- tee of that body and introduced and succeeded in having passed a number of
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important ordinances, including a child-welfare ordinance, a factory-inspec- tion ordinance and an ordinance for the abatement of the smoke nuisance.
On June 30, 1909, John F. Baker was united in marriage to Nettie Edna Stewart, who was born in Vienna township, this county, July 27. 1887, daughter of Walton and Rosabelle (Stage) Stewart, both natives of this county, the former of whom died in 1892 at Mansalona, where he was engaged in business. He was the son of George E. Stewart, who is still living, now making his home in Humboldt county, California, where he has a fruit farm. Mrs. Baker's maternal grandfather, Milton Stage, and his wife were early settlers of this county. He was one of the first surveyors of Genesee county. His wife was a native of Devonshire, England. They were the parents of four children, Elmer, Mrs. Ella Mann, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. William Humphrey. To Walton Stewart and wife two children were born, Mrs. Baker having a brother, George M. Stewart. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker three children have been born, Francis S., who died in infancy; Frances Edna and John Walton.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Baker is president of the Equitable Fraternal Union; member of Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons; Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevol- ent and Protective Order of Elks; a social member of Mckinley Camp No. 8, National League of Veterans and Sons, and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which Mr. Baker was elected worthy patron in 1916. For three years Mr. Baker was a member of the Michigan National Guard and during the last year of that service held the rank of assistant quarter-master sergeant.
FRANK E. JONES.
Frank E. Jones, a well-known and progressive farmer of Clayton town- ship, proprietor of "Maple Lane Farm," a well-kept place of eighty acres four miles north of Swartz Creek on the Moorish road, rural route No. 5 out of Flint, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Independence township, in the neighboring county of Oakland, October 13, 1870, son of George and Catherine M. ( Black) Jones, the former a native of the state of New Jersey and the latter of New York, who later became well-known residents of this county.
. George Jones was born on March 12, 1848, and was but a child when his parents came to Michigan from New Jersey and settled in Oakland
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county, where he grew to manhood and where he married Catherine M. Black, who was born on March 22, 1848, and who was but a child when her parents came to Michigan froin New York state and settled in Oakland county. After his marriage George Jones continued to make his home in Oakland county until 1878, when he moved with his family to Genesee county and settled in Flushing township, later moving to Clayton township, where he is still living. His wife died on January 15, 1907. They were the par- ents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Lillie, who married R. S. Budd, of Lansing, this state.
Frank E. Jones was eight years old when his parents moved over into Genesee county from Oakland county and he grew to manhood in Clayton township, remaining on the home farm, a valuable assistant to his father in the development of the same, until his marriage, when twenty-two years of age. He then began farming for himself, living on a rented farm for ten years, at the end of which time he bought forty acres of the old Stone farm, the place on which his wife was born and reared, and there made his home until he sold that place to advantage and bought the farm of eighty acres on which he is now living and where he and his family are very pleas- antly situated. "Maple Lane Farm" is regarded as one of the best-kept places in that part of the county. Mr. Jones is a Democrat and has held the office of township treasurer.
On October 26, 1892, Frank E. Jones was united in marriage to Hattie B. Stone, who was born on a farm in Clayton township, this county, Janu- ary 7, 1871, daughter of Judson A. and Sarah A. (Ottaway) Stone, the former of whom was born in Oakland county, this state, and the latter in Clayton township, this county. During the Civil War, Judson A. Stone enlisted for service in Company B, Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and served with that command for almost three years. He later married and settled in Clayton township, this county, where he spent the rest of his life. an industrious and influential resident of that part of the county. He died in 1890 and his widow is still living. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Jones having a brother, Eugene Stone, of Flint, and a sister, Inez. who married Fred W. Smith and lives at Flushing. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones one son has been born, Lyle V. Jones, born on June 7, 1895, who was graduated from the Baker Business University at Flint and is living at home with his parents. Frank E. Jones is a member of Swartz Creck Lodge No. 458, Free and Accepted Masons, of which lodge he is one of the officers, and both he and his wife are members of the local chapter of the
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Order of the Eastern Star. They both also are members of Flushing Grange No. 387, and in the affairs of these several organizations take a warm and active interest, as well as in the general social activities of their home community.
FRANK PATTERSON.
It is a pleasure to any one to look over a well-improved and finely- kept place like that of Frank Patterson, of Burton township, Genesee county, for he believes in keeping abreast of the times, adopting, so far as practi- cable, the most approved twentieth-century methods in general farming. He was born in Saginaw county, Michigan, January 23, 1856, and is a son of John and Eliza (Benett) Patterson, both natives of the state of New York, where they grew up and were married. They came West in a very early day and took up land from the government in Brady township, Saginaw county, Michigan. They spent the first winter in Flint and in the spring of 1854 moved to their land, becoming owners of three hundred acres, unimproved. Mr. Patterson cleared and developed his land and built a group of farm buildings on it, but, after a. residence here of a few years, moved with his family to Chesaning township, Saginaw county, later to Clinton county. He ran a hotel for awhile on the main road through Chesaning township, Saginaw county. The family lived in Clinton county from the spring of 1863 until the father's death, the mother having died while the family lived in Saginaw county. To John Patterson and wife eleven children were born, all of whom grew to maturity, but only four are living at this writing, namely: Mary, widow of Seth Hinkley, who died while a soldier in the Civil War, lives at Lansing, Michigan; Chauncey lives in St. Johns, Michigan; Frank, of this sketch, and Josephine, wife of Mon- roe Smith, of Port Huron, Michigan.
Frank Patterson grew up on the home farm, where he remained until he was about twenty years old. He received his education in the district schools, and then hired out for a few years in Clinton county on a farm. After his marriage he lived in Kalkaska county, this state, buying wild land, which he cleared up and put out in crops. After living there seven years, he removed to Livingston county and lived west of Fenton on a farm for a period of nine years, after which he returned to Kalkaska county, where he bought ninety acres. This he cleared and improved, building a home and outbuildings and remained there until seven years ago, when he moved to .
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his present farm of one hundred and ten acres, known as the "Maple Grove farm," in section 4, five and one-half miles southeast of Flint.
Mr. Patterson was married in Farmington, Michigan, on January 8, 1879, to Addie Crawford, a daughter of Myron and Charlotte (Seaton) Crawford. 'She was born in Farmington township, Oakland county, Michi- gan, on the same farm on which her father was born and on which he spent his entire life, his death occurring in 1898. The place was originally en- tered from the government by Robert Crawford, Mrs. Patterson's grand- father who removed here from the state of New York in a very early day and lived to be ninety-eight years old.
One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, Chauncey B. Patter- son, who married Maude France, of Petoskey, has one daughter, June B .; they live in Flint, where he follows his trade of machinist. Politically, Mr. Patterson is a Republican, but is not especially active in public affairs.
HERBERT HAAS.
The old homestead, with its precious memories, has been a good enough place to live for Herbert Haas, farmer, of Thelford township, who is a rep- resentative of an early family of Genesee county. He was born on this farm, March 20, 1879, and is a son of Frederick and Louisa ( Biehl) Haas. The father was born in Germany and when about four years of age his parents brought him to Canada, where he grew to manhood. His father, Frederick Haas, Sr., followed his trade of shoemaker in St. George, Ontario, for a number of years, spending the rest of his life there, his old age in the home of his son, Frederick, Jr. Louisa Biehl was born in Germany, from which country she was brought to Canada when a small girl, her par- ents locating in Ontario, and she grew up in the Preston vicinity. After their marriage, Frederick Haas, Jr., and wife remained in that vicinity about a year. He was a cheese-maker by trade. He and his wife moved to Thelford township, Genesee county, Michigan, buying eighty acres of wild land, where Herbert now lives. This they cleared and began life in typical pioneer fashion, erecting a log house in which they lived for some time. They remained on this farm until 1899 when they rented the place out and moved to Clio, buying a small place there. He has lived in retirement during the past six years. To these parents ten children, six of whom are still living, have been born, named as follows: Herbert, of this sketch; Flora is the wife of George Phillips, of Flint; Frank is in the transfer business
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in Los Angeles, California; Mabel is the wife of Ralph M. Gillett, of Clio; Clara is the wife of Charles Sturdevant, of Clio; Estella is the wife of Ray Ford, of Clio.
Herbert Haas grew up on the farm where he worked hard when a boy, as did all sons of pioneers, and he received his education in the district schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years old, then started out for himself. On March 13, 1901, he married Nettie Cummings, young- est daughter of Orlando Cummings, a prominent farmer of Goodrich, Gene- see county. After his marriage he took up farming on the home place in the spring of 1901, and bought the place and has continued to live here ever since. He has kept it well improved and well cultivated.
Politically, Mr. Haas is a Republican. He was overseer of his town- ship in 1913, since which year he was served as highway commissioner. filling both offices very successfully. He is a member of Vienna Lodge No. 205. Free and Accepted Masons, at Clio.
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